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Five potential disasters awaiting the Gators in 2011

There were so many mishaps last season that former Florida coach Urban Meyer coined a new phrase: “disaster-mistakes.”

Can the Gators steer clear of “disaster-mistakes” this fall? Here are five major threats to Florida’s season:

[For five things that could go well for the Gators this year, click here]

1. The patchwork offensive line can’t power the running game or protect QB John Brantley.

Last year, the Gators had three seniors on the offensive line who were drafted the following spring. Even with that talent and experience up front, Florida ranked in the middle of the SEC in rushing offense and sacks allowed. That does not take into account the full number of times a play was derailed by one of Mike Pouncey’s bad snaps or defenders flooding the backfield before Brantley could even raise his eyes. Summary: the line wasn’t good in 2010. Now the Gators roll out a group of five players with a combined total of 21 starts. If the line falters again this fall, no one will ever know if Brantley was an SEC-caliber quarterback, and the implementation of new coordinator Charlie Weis’ offense will not matter.

2. The secondary is too inexperienced, and Janoris Jenkins’ absence can’t be offset.

Pretty gutsy of Will Muschamp to kick his best player off the team in spring. The downside, of course, is that he lost his best player. Jenkins was considered the No. 1 cornerback in the country heading into this fall, but he took his talents to North Alabama. So instead of having a proven senior at one corner and cycling through a variety of options at the other starting spot, the Gators will trot out two inexperienced cornerbacks on Saturday. At safety, Matt Elam seems loaded with potential, but he has never started a game. Junior Josh Evans is the only safety on the roster who has been with the team more than one season.

3. Brantley is not good enough to play in the SEC.

There are two main schools of thought on Brantley: 1. Last year’s struggles were not his fault, but rather the product of a dysfunctional offensive scheme and injuries to key players, and 2. He can’t play at this level. So let’s say the offensive line surprises the rest of the SEC by protecting solidly, and throw in the bonus of all the skill players staying healthy — even if all that happens, no one in Gainesville can guarantee Brantley has a good season in 2011. He threw more interceptions that touchdowns last season and rarely topped 200 yards passing in a game. Nine SEC quarterbacks had a higher passer rating. If that’s all he is, Florida better hope Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps each run for 1,000 yards.

4. Demps and Rainey are not durable enough or suited for the new offense.

Speaking of which… No one has seen the Gators’ new offense, but it sounds like a lot of I-formation and power runs up the middle. Is it possible that Demps and Rainey — neither of whom weighs more than 190 pounds — will be unable to do that? The Gators have Trey Burton as a short-yardage option, but the plan seems to center on Demps and Rainey. They were perfect fits in Meyer’s spread-option offense, but don’t appear to be ideal running backs for Weis’. The proof of that will surface in upcoming recruiting classes, when Florida will target bigger backs. Plus, Demps is coming off a season in which he only started five games and was limited all year by a sprained foot.

5. The Georgia Bulldogs are back.

Florida has owned the Bulldogs over the past two decades with 18 wins in their past 21 meetings, but Georgia appears to have the talent advantage this year. The SEC media poll had the Bulldogs ahead of Florida in the Eastern Division. Georgia is ranked higher than the Gators in the Associated Press poll and the USA Today coaches’ poll to start the season. The Bulldogs sputtered to a 6-7 record in 2010, but that includes four one-score losses. One of those came against Florida, which needed overtime heroics to pull out a 34-31 win in Jacksonville.

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